Final defendant in $47 million mortgage fraud pleads guilty

The seventh and final defendant in a $47 million mortgage fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to charges that he used "straw buyers" to defraud lending institutions. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office at Seattle, Viktor Kobzar pleaded guilty Monday to charges of conspiracy to commit bank, mail and wire fraud, as well as filing a false tax return. Kobzar, a 32-year-old Federal Way mortgage broker, and six others were arrested in March on allegations that they used their access to three Bellevue companies to garner fraudulent loans. In doing so, prosecutors contended, they enriched themselves. The defendants have agreed to forfeit $2.5 million in assets, including a Lamborghini Gallardo sports car, two BMWs and a 31-foot yacht. Posted in: Internal Fraud